Stalk-cutter.



' T. H. WALKER.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION rmm 11111.3. 1910.

Patented May 16, 1911,

INVENTOR Attorney sumoran, n. c.

. UNITED sTA s PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS HENRY WALKER, OF LUMBER CITY, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOE, OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT I1. WALKER, OF LUMBER CITY, GEORGIA. i

I STALK-CUTTER.

Specification of LettersPatent Patented May 16, 1911.

Application filed August 3, 1910. Serial No. 575,366.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lumber City, in the county of Telfair and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Gutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n stalk cutters, and the objects are the provision of a machine of this character which will be of the simplest, cheapest and most durable construction; which will be of the proper weight to insure the cutting of the stalks in a rapid and perfect manner; which will permit of the ready removal and insertion of the blades or cutters; which will permit of the use of a blade or cutter having double cutting edges; and which generally will prove eflicient and practical from'every standpoint. With these objects in View, my invention consists of a stalk cutter embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts substantially as disclosed herein.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my complete stalk cutter. Fig. 2 is a detailed view showing the construction of the axle, hub, cutters and clamping means. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of one of the blades or cutters detached. Fig. a is an elevation taken from the inner face of one of the clamping heads or members employed in securing the blades or cutters in place. Fig. 5 is a face View or elevation of the centrally disposed cutter guiding and sustaining disks, and, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of double cutter or blade capable of use in my stalk cutter.

Referring by numerals to the drawings in which similar numerals denote corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates the platform or frame-work of my stalk cutter which is of rectangular form and composed of a series of parts suitably connected, and 4 is the drivers seat properly located and supported upon the frame structure. Depending from the frame is the pair of supports 5 to which is secured the axle-bearing brackets 6 in which is mounted the axle 7, and upon the axle is placed the hub 8 which is of square or rectangular form with its ends formed with the reduced squared shoulder portions 9 to fit the squared openings 10 in the clamping heads 11. These clamping heads are made face with a series of spokes or ribs 12 which are provided with the blade-receiving kerfs or seats 13, said seats being inclined toward the central portion of the head to receive and clamp therein the inclined ends 14 of the blades or cutters 15. These heads have their periphery formed between each knifereceiving seat withcurved portions 16 which give the heads the general shape of a star in connection with the' knives or cutters, and

this construction is of paramount im-' portance as it causes the heads to receive the stalks and retain them in proper position to be subjectedto ithe cuttingaction of the tion-between the pair of heads and to clamp and secure the cutters in proper position I employ the series of clamping rods 17 which have on one end the heads 18 countersunk in the clamping members and have their other ends threaded and engaged by nuts 19. Said rods at all times insure the proper clamping of the blades in position but permit their ready removal when necessary and to further retain the cutters in proper place and sustain the cutters throughout their length I employ the disk 20 having the squared opening 21 to receive the hub, and the peripheral notches 22 to engage the notch 23 in the cutters and also provided with the series of openings 24 to receive the securing or clamping rods 17.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified construction of cutter which provides a pair of cutting edges 25 and has at each end the pins or studs 26 constructed to engage the sockets 27 in the clamping members or heads, and it will be apparent that this construction permits of the reversing of the cutters by providing two cutting edges without increasing the cost of the cutter.

It is evident that I provide a stalk cutter which is of the proper weight and has the cutters disposed in proper relation to act upon the stalks and insure their rapid and perfect cutting and that my machine embodies the necessary features ,to insure efficiency and desirability in a machine of this character.

I claim:

of metal and are provided on their inner 1. The combination with a frame, of an I axle journaled therein, a squared hub having reduced square ends mounted on the axle, heads having square recesses receiving the reduced portion of the hub, said heads having recesses in their inner faces of increased depth at the base, blade members having their ends engaged in the recesses of the heads and being clampingly engaged by the heads to retain them in position, a bracing, member having a squared recess in which the hub is engaged and having a series of recesses in its periphery in which the blades are engaged, the blades having recesses to permit them to fit down over the bracing member, and rods passing through the bracing member and the heads for securing the parts in position.

2. The combination with a frame, of an axle ournaled therein, a square hub mounted on the axle and having reduced ends, heads mounted on said reduced ends and having radial recesses formed in their inner faces, said recesses being of triangular form in longitudinal section, a bracing member mounted on the central portion of the hub and formed with peripheral recesses,

knife members having angular ends making tight engagement with the recesses in the heads and having their intermediate portion engaged in the recesses inthe bracing member, and means for securing the heads in clamping engagement with the blades.

3. A stalk cutter, consisting of a supporting structure, an axle mounted in said structure, a squared hub on said axle having its ends formed with squared shoulders, a pair of clamping heads having squared openings to fit the shoulder portions and further provided with knife-receiving seats, knives having their ends fitted in said seats, a central sustaining device fitting on the squared hub, and securing means passing through the clamping heads and sustaining device for securing the parts in position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two wltnesses.

THOMAS HENRY WALKER.

WVitnesses DAN P. MOARTHUR, THOS. F. DAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

